Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM vs Canon EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS II
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonEF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM | CanonEF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS II | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2016 | July 2011 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Zoom | Zoom |
| Focal length | 24–105 mm | 55–250 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 | f/4–5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22–32 |
| Optical construction | Seventeen elements in twelve groups | 12 elements in 10 groups |
| Special elements | Four aspherical elements | UD glass element |
| Coatings | Air Sphere Coating; front and rear fluorine coating according to The Digital Picture | Super Spectra coatings according to Canon's UK launch announcement |
| Diaphragm | Ten blades with a circular aperture | Seven blades with a circular aperture |
| Angle of view | 84°–23°20′ diagonal, 74°–19°20′ horizontal and 53°–13° vertical | Horizontal 23°20′–5°20′; vertical 15°40′–3°30′; diagonal 27°50′–6°15′ |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon EF | Canon EF-S |
| Image circle | Full frame | APS-C |
| Compatibility | Canon EF full-frame and APS-C DSLRs; EOS M cameras require an EF-EOS M mount adaptor | Canon EF-S compatible APS-C cameras; 88–400 mm equivalent field of view |
| Teleconverter support | Canon's manual excludes extenders | EF1.4X III and EF2X III cannot be used according to the instruction manual |
| Adaptor support | EF12 II gives 0.60–0.50× at 24 mm and 0.41–0.12× at 105 mm; EF25 II is incompatible at 24 mm and gives 0.61–0.27× at 105 mm | – |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.45 m | 1.1 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.24× | 0.31× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | USM autofocus with full-time manual focusing. Canon's manual specifies turning the ring with the shutter half-pressed after One Shot AF | Move the AF/MF switch to MF before manually turning the focus ring; the manual forbids adjusting manual focus in AF mode |
| Focus distance detail | Internal focusing according to The Digital Picture; Canon instructs users to finish zooming before focusing | Minimum focus distance 1.1 m throughout the zoom range; maximum 0.31× magnification at 250 mm; front and focus ring rotate during autofocus according to Ken Rockwell |
| Stabilisation detail | Canon claims four-stop optical stabilisation. The exact manual describes automatic adjustment for still subjects and panning, with correction perpendicular to the panning direction | Four-stop launch claim based on 1/(focal length × 1.6) shutter speed; automatically compensates across the direction of panning; manual recommends switching IS off on a tripod to save battery |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | – |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 58 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 83.5 mm | 70 mm |
| Length | 118 mm | 108 mm |
| Weight | 795 g | 390 g (better) |
| Controls | AF/MF and stabilisation switches, separate focus and zoom rings, distance window, infrared index and transport lock at 24 mm | – |
| Zoom design | Extending barrel; zoom lock holds the shortest 24 mm position | Barrel extends towards longer focal lengths according to Ken Rockwell |
| Weather resistance | Canon UK describes dust and moisture sealing; the manual identifies a rubber mount ring. The Digital Picture recommends a protective filter to complete front sealing | – |
| Dimensions detail | Maximum diameter × retracted length; size and 795 g weight are lens-only. Caps add 24.2 mm to length according to Canon's manual | 70 mm maximum diameter × 108 mm length from the mount to the lens front without caps |
| Weight detail | – | Approximate 390 g lens-only figure in Canon's instruction manual |
| Lens hood | EW-83M hood with release button; reversible for storage | Optional ET-60; reversible for storage |
| In the box | Lens, E-77 II front cap, Dust Lens Cap E, EW-83M hood, LP1219 case and manual according to Canon UK | Front and rear caps according to Ken Rockwell; Canon's manual identifies the hood and LP1019 pouch as optional |
| Release detail | Canon Camera Museum's exact-model table records October 2016 marketing; its later RF 24–105mm page retrospectively says November 2016. The year is used because the maker gives conflicting months without explaining a regional difference | Canon Camera Museum and Canon's UK launch announcement give July 2011 first availability. Canon identifies the 2007 EF-S 55–250mm f/4–5.6 IS as its predecessor; the II retains its optical design and changes the exterior. |
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